Long, Tired Road For Some Players

By Dave Shedloski

Town and Country, Mo. – Champions Tour players are engaged in their third major championship in a row at this week's U.S. Senior Open. They've traveled from Detroit to chilly Ireland and now tickle the turf at esteemed Bellerive Country Club.

It's a test of time management and time zones. It's a test of fitness and shot-making and patience. It's a test they don't want to take again.

"I don't know that there's anybody happy about this schedule," said Ben Crenshaw, among a number of players who have had to make the adjustment from the ancient fescue of Royal Portrush Golf Club in Ireland to Bellerive's immaculate zoysia grass fairways. "It's a shame, really, because all these tournaments are so meaningful, and it's not good for any of them."

It's certainly not good for the players who have to do all that traveling and talk themselves into getting up for yet another significant tournament so soon after playing the last one – abroad, no less.

"Are we at a disadvantage?" Tom Watson said, echoing the question put to him. "We'll find out."

Watson, a five-time British Open champion and the 2003 Senior British Open winner, said he awoke at 4 a.m. because he is not yet used to the time difference. "Fortunately, I had a morning tee time," he said, grinning.

Don Pooley and Bob Gilder each shot a 3-under par 68 and Tom Kite, runner-up to surprise winner Pete Oakley last week at Royal Portrush, had a 69 to lead the group that came back from overseas.

"You do feel it a bit," Gilder said. "It's not so much fatigue, but the stiffness that you get with the travel. But you have to deal with it. This is another golf tournament, and thinking about it (the inconvenience) isn't going to help you."

"I don't understand guys not going over there, except for health reasons," Kite said. "I mean, you only have so many chances to play in major championships, and I think you have to fight through the fatigue and go play."

Players like Pooley and D.A. Weibring, who shot 71, helped their cause by chartering a plane that brought them directly to this week's tournament site. "I got in here and got a good night's sleep and I feel pretty close to normal," Weibring said.

"I paid extra to feel better," Pooley said. "It's worked out great, though maybe it was not too friendly to my wallet – but it could yet."

Gary Player, who has traveled perhaps more than any golfer in the world, said that it takes the body a day for every hour in time difference to recover fully from jet lag. But John Jacobs said there was no reason for any player to cite the travel challenge as a reason for poor play.

"If you're a golfer and you have professional in front of that title, you adjust," he said. "There's no reason to complain. Anyone who does is just crying or using it as an excuse. They should suck it up and just play, that's all there is to it."